New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-18
TIE AUTOGRAPH MARKET.

newspaper has just Dcen stdr1eu III 0hi'
town in the interest Of the man that sells
autographs and his brother who buys them.
1t is an interesting ublication-interestlng
for tho light it throws upon the cash value OF
earthly fame. Washington's autograph Is
worth $50, Byron's S40-tbat is to say. the
hold which the poet has upon the living present
is twice as strong as the PATRIOTS Tom
Moore, who was fond OF composing bacchan-
allan catches, has left name that fetches
$40, while Neal Dow, the apostle OF ProhlDl-
ton, is quoted at so cents. An earnest, hard
working traitor like Jefferson Davis does an
autograph which can be obtained for the low
sum of ST., but his fclow-worker IN the Same
line of business, Benedict Arnold, wrote q
hand a bit of which is considered bargain at
$40.
It remains to DO seen whether tho
Bourbons will oondone this attempt OF the
controllers of the autograph market to cheaper
the inverted immortality of Davis and maintain
Arnold ut a stiff price. The fine Italian hand
of James Buchanan commands 81; and In the
face of this quotation specimen OF the per-
sonal chirography of Carl Schuz is offered
for so cents. In other words, Democrat Is
to a Mugwump as 400 is to so; or, reducing
these figures to their lowest terms, one Dem
ocrat is equal to eight Mugwumps. Comment
is not necessary, but We leave it to Harpers
Weekly to make the necessary remarks.
Mr.. Schurz may or may not derive modiheo
comfort from the reflection that his name
comes as high as that Of the Attorney Generai
of the United States. The Honorable A. j.
Garland can only sell his name for half q
dollar. 1t is only fair to add that there IS
general impression in Pan-Electric circles
that time was when it came higher. we
should like to mention that General Ben But
er's autograph is quoted as worth hith more
than Wade HamptoDs, but refrain from doihg
so owing to our unwillingness TO lndulSe III
contrast which may look like an msiuious
attempt to wave the bloody shirt. And so,
also, shrinking from hurting the feelings OF
tho Iroauos Club and the other Democratic
organizations that burn much annual incense
on the altar of the memory OF Andrew JACK
son. wo have not the heart to state That 'id
llickory's DemJ autograph has been paccu
on the 81 rs counter while Slilard Fillmore
QscpJ hand is firm at 81 so.
Il NAV be said-and the observation Is not
without forcc-that the price which an auto
graph will bring is not an unassallabic and
conclusive test of the real significance OF the
man that furnishes it. Juliet was doubtless
of this opinion, for she once TOOK
occasion pointedly to inquire: nat
in nameY" And therefore hVln2
persons whose signatures are ohereu
for sale in the publication in question: anu
who arc firmly convinced that they are quoted
too low relatively or absolutely. owe 1T 10
themselves and the truth OF history 10 come
out in cards with n corrected prce-hSt' IL
Jeff Davis believes that he is as good traitor
"a Benedict Arnold ever was, Notwithstanding
tho fact that Arnold leads him at the auto
p,aph sales let him frankly say so anddemand
either that the price of Arnolds autograph
he reduced or that his own be raised. Ana
il Carl Schurz Indignantly rcsents the idea
that Democrat is eight times as much OIL
account as a Mugwump. let him stcrniy de-
mand of dealers in autographs that their Gaia
lncue forthwith be revised so far as II relates
60 the comparative value OF James buchanan
and himself AS for Attorncy-Gencral LAR
land. il he is led to feel that 90 cents Is an
cxtortionate price for his autograph-Dut inc
reader will catch our meaning.